Maybe it will be for the better. But one thing is for sure: Actions are speaking louder than words as head coach Chip Kelly, silent since being given absolute power over all things football, has chosen a Samurai sword to begin his mass deconstruction, reconstruction, roster makeover or whatever you want to call it.

And maybe even wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, not franchised because the $13 million or so they'd be require to pay him for one season was too rich for their blood.

Third-year inside linebacker Kiko Alonso — one guess about where he played his college ball — is headed here in return for McCoy.

After the initial shock, it actually looks as if it could be a great trade for the Birds, who one day earlier addressed their depth at linebacker by signing free agent Brad Jones. Now it appears that a healthy Alonso, who sat last season while recovering from a torn ACL, could be an upgrade over Ryans, who is coming off a torn Achilles tendon and will turn 31 in July.

Worilds isn't here yet. The Pittsburgh Steelers are about to set him free, though, and when they do … ring, ring, ka-ching, ka-ching. To be sung to the music of ZZ Top's "Legs", "The Eagles have money, and [now] they know how to use it."

They're going to have so much money, in fact, that they might not be able to spend it all.

If the McCoy deal goes down and they follow through with releasing Cole and Ryans, they will be more than $50 million under the salary cap.

So at least if they do decide to trade away a bunch of draft picks to move up and get that other famous Oregon Duck, quarterback Marcus Mariota, they'll be in position to help themselves with top free agents to fill many of their other needs.

The funny part about this is that Kelly actually broke his silence Tuesday night with a 15-minute address about creating your own happiness (not the kind suggested by Dr. Ruth) he gave at the Cherry Hill (N.J.) Jewish Community Center. But he took no questions and was hustled out of there under cover of big Dom DiSandro, the team president of security, immediately after.

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer's Zach Berman, who covered it, Kelly was asked repeatedly about the trade by reporters as he was leaving but said nothing.

For the record, McCoy's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, refused to confirm any trade but did admit there were discussions. Nothing can become official until 4 p.m. Tuesday, so even if the teams do have an agreement in principle, they still have plenty of time to change their minds.

This news comes on the heels of a report by CSN Philly about an hour earlier that the Eagles were going to release Cole, who is due to make $10 million this year.

In his 10 seasons since being drafted by the Eagles in 2005, Cole has recorded more sacks (85.5) than anyone in team history not named Reggie White.

So we're looking at major changes that make the 2011 experiment look trivial by comparison.